On his first day in office, the president of the United States, donald trumprevoked this Monday the executive order that the former Democratic president Joe Biden had signed on January 14 to withdraw Cuba of the list of states promoting terrorism.
This decision reestablishes the restrictions that have weighed on the island since its inclusion in said list in January 2021, during Trump’s first term.
Biden’s order, signed a few days after leaving the White House, sought to facilitate the release of 553 Cuban prisoners as part of a negotiated process mediated by the Vatican. In addition, it had temporarily suspended the ability of US citizens to sue in US courts for the expropriation of property in Cuba and lifted certain financial sanctions.
The return of Cuba to the list again implies restrictions such as ban on arms sales, increased export controls, restrictions on foreign aid, limitations on visa access and the reimposition of various economic sanctions. These measures represent a tightening of US policy towards the island, in line with the position adopted by Trump during his first term (2017-2021), when he increased sanctions after stopping the “thaw” process promoted by Barack Obama (2009-2017).
The initial inclusion of Cuba on the list in 2021 was justified by the presence on the island of members of the National Liberation Army (ELN)a Colombian guerrilla who had traveled to Havana to begin peace negotiations with the Government of Colombia. At that time, the Cuban regime denied these accusations, considering them a pretext to tighten the economic embargo.
Marco Rubiorecently confirmed as Secretary of State, supported the decision to reincorporate Cuba into the list. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio stated that he had “zero doubts” that the island is a state promoting terrorism.
The measure occurs in a context of tense relations between Washington and Havana, marked by the maintenance of the economic embargo and diplomatic pressure against the Cuban dictatorship.
Meanwhile, Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel described Trump’s order to include the island again on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism as a “mockery.”
In a series of messages on the social network X shortly after the executive order became known, Díaz-Canel considered “an act of arrogance and disregard for the truth” the return of the country to the list and argued that the “objective” behind this step is to strengthen “the cruel economic war against Cuba for the purposes of domination.”
”This act of mockery and abuse confirms the discredit of the lists and unilateral coercive mechanisms of the US Government. The legitimate and noble cause of our people will prevail and will once again win,” he added.
The Cuban dictatorship released 114 political prisonersas reported this Sunday by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), within the framework of a gradual process that provides for the release of 553 people, the majority imprisoned for participating in the protests of the July 11, 2021 (11J), against the regime of Miguel Diaz-Canel.
According to the OCDH, the releases began on Wednesday of last week, one day after the Havana dictatorship announced the process. Among those released are prominent opposition figures, such as Tania Echevarría Menendezmember of the group Ladies in Whitewho was serving a six-year prison sentence for his participation in the 11J demonstrations.
Berta Solerleader of the Ladies in White, confirmed Echevarría’s release through his Facebook profile, indicating that there are still three members of the group to be released: Sissi Abascal, Sayli Navarro and Aymara Nieto.
Navarro, who is considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty Internationalwas arrested along with her father, the historical opponent Felix Navarrowho was also released from prison this weekend.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)
